Recording medium determination apparatus and image forming apparatus

ABSTRACT

The timing of obtaining an output value for use in a determination of a recording medium is generated from a received ultrasonic wave and a waveform generated by delaying the ultrasonic wave, whereby it is possible to reduce an influence of a reflection wave from the peripheral members and an influence of a change in the environment to improve the accuracy of determination of the recoding medium.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a determination apparatus fordetermining a type of a recording medium and an image forming apparatusequipped with the determination apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

In a conventional image forming apparatus, a user sets a type of arecording medium (hereinafter also referred to as “paper type”), forexample, by setting at a computer serving as an external apparatus orusing an operation panel provided in the main body of the image formingapparatus. By setting a type of a recording medium, image formingconditions can be changed according to a type of a recording medium, andimage formation is carried out under the conditions suitable for thetype of the recording medium. To reduce the load of such user settingthrough a computer or an operation panel, recently, an image formingapparatus has been provided with, for example, a sensor capable ofdetermining a type of a recording medium inside the image formingapparatus so that a type of a recording medium is automaticallydetermined.

For example, “Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-132055”discusses a method in which, when a grammage of a recording medium ismeasured with use of an ultrasonic wave, a propagation time of anultrasonic wave between an ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonicreceiver is calculated in advance, and the grammage is measured based onthe calculated propagation time.

However, the environment where a recording medium determinationapparatus is disposed is not always under a constant temperature andatmospheric pressure. Therefore, a variation in the environment bringsabout a change in the propagation speed of an ultrasonic wave in theair, so that detection based on a propagation time calculated in advancemay not produce an accurate measurement result.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention of the present application is directed to quicklyobtaining an accurate measurement result even if a recording medium isdetected without calculating a propagation time of an ultrasonic wave inadvance.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a recording mediumdetermination apparatus includes a transmitting unit configured totransmit an ultrasonic wave to a recording medium; a receiving unitconfigured to receive the ultrasonic wave which has passed through therecording medium; a delay unit configured to generate a delay signaldelayed for a predetermined time relative to the received ultrasonicwave based on the received ultrasonic wave; a generation unit configuredto generate a timing of detecting an output value of the receivedultrasonic wave from the received ultrasonic wave and the delay signal;and a control unit configured to determine the recording medium usingthe output value of the received ultrasonic wave at the timing generatedby the generator.

Further features and aspects of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description of exemplaryembodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments, features,and aspects of the invention and, together with the description, serveto explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an image forming apparatus according toexemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control unit performing an operationcontrol according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a grammage sensor according to theexemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control circuit according to a firstexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a circuit configuration diagram of a timing generation unitaccording to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate signal waveforms according to the firstexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 7 illustrates the relationship between the local maximum value ofan intensity signal and the grammage according to the first exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a CPU according tothe first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a control circuit according to a secondexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a circuit configuration diagram of a timing generation unitaccording to the second exemplary embodiment.

FIGS. 11A and 11B illustrate signal waveforms according to the secondexemplary embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Various exemplary embodiments, features, and aspects of the inventionwill be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed with reference to the drawings. It should be understood thatthe following exemplary embodiments do not intend to limit the inventiondefined by the appended claims, and all the combinations of the featuresdescribed in the exemplary embodiments are not necessarily essential tothe solution according to the invention.

A recording medium determination apparatus according to exemplaryembodiments of the present invention, which determines a type of arecording medium, can be used in an image forming apparatus such as acopying machine or a printer. FIG. 1 illustrates an example of aconfiguration of an image forming apparatus where the recording mediumdetermination apparatus is mounted.

First, the configurations of the respective units of an image formingapparatus will be described. An image forming apparatus 101 forms animage. A recording media P is placed on a sheet forming cassette 102. Asheet feeding roller 103 feeds the recording medium P placed on thesheet feeding cassette 102. An ultrasonic transmitter 20 transmits anultrasonic wave for a determination of the recording medium P. Anultrasonic receiver 30 receives the ultrasonic wave transmitted from theultrasonic transmitter 20. The ultrasonic transmitter 20 and theultrasonic receiver 30 are defined as a recording medium determinationapparatus. Conveyance rollers 127 and 128 convey the recording medium P.A transfer belt drive roller 104 drives a transfer belt to rotate. Thetransfer belt 105 is driven by the transfer belt drive roller 104.

Images are formed on photosensitive drums 106 to 109 by yellow, magenta,cyan, and black toners, respectively. Transfer rollers 110 to 113respectively correspond to the photosensitive drums 106 to 109 of therespective colors, and transfer images formed on the photosensitivedrums 106 to 109, to the recording medium P conveyed on the transferbelt 105. Cartridges 114 to 117 are used to form yellow, magenta, cyan,and black images, respectively. Optical units 118 to 121 form latentimages on the photosensitive drums 106 to 109 to create yellow, magenta,cyan, and black images. A fixing unit 122 fixes an image formed on therecording medium P. Paper discharge rollers 129 and 130 discharge therecording medium P on which an image is fixed by the fixing unit 122.The recording medium P is discharged to a discharge tray 123. Afull-state detection sensor 124 detects a full-stacked state of thedischarge tray 123.

Next, an image forming operation of the image forming apparatus 101 willbe described. Print data including, for example, a print instruction andimage information is input from, for example, a host computer (notshown) to the image forming apparatus 101. Then, the image formingapparatus 101 starts a print operation, and the recording medium P issent from the paper feeding cassette 102 onto the conveyance path by thepaper feeding roller 103. The photosensitive drums 106, 107, 108, and109 are charged to have a certain electric potential by charging rollersin the image forming operation. The optical units 118, 119, 120, and 121form electrostatic latent images by exposure-scanning the surfaces ofthe charged photosensitive drums 106, 107, 108, and 109 with laser beamsaccording to the input print data to form a latent image. Developmentapparatuses in the cartridges 114, 115, 116, and 117 carry outdevelopments to visualize the formed electrostatic latent image. Thedeveloped images are transferred onto the recording medium P. The imagestransferred onto the recording medium P is fixed thereon by the fixingunit 122 constituted by, for example, a fixing roller. The recordingmedium P with the images fixed thereon is discharged to the dischargetray 123 by the paper discharge roller 130, and then the image formingoperation is finished.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary block diagram of a control unit which controls anoperation of the image forming apparatus 101. A central processing unit(CPU) 301 is connected through a control circuit 302 to optical units312 to 315 for the respective colors which each include, for example, apolygonal mirror, a motor, and a laser emitting element. The CPU 301controls the optical units 312 to 315 by outputting a control signal tothe control circuit 302, to form latent images by scanning thephotosensitive drums 106 to 109 with laser. Similarly, the CPU 301controls, for example, a paper feeding motor 316 for driving the paperfeeding roller 103 and the conveyance roller 128 to convey the recordingmedium P. Further, the CPU 301 perform control to maintain a fixingtemperature at a constant temperature by monitoring the temperature withuse of a thermistor (not shown) disposed at the fixing unit 122.Further, the CPU 301 is connected to a memory 324 through, for example,a bus (not shown), and controls an operation with use of a program anddata stored in the memory 324.

The CPU 301 performs control to change, for example, a fixing conditionof the recording medium P according to a determination result of therecording medium determination apparatus. More specifically, a hightemperature is set as the fixing temperature for a relatively thickrecording medium P since the thick recording medium has a large heatcapacity, while a low temperature is set as the fixing temperature for arelatively thin recording medium P since the thin recording medium has asmall heat capacity. The CPU 301 can also change the above-mentionedfixing temperature condition based on a detection value itself withoutdetermining the recording medium P, which can be realized by having thememory 324 store a table containing detection values and fixingtemperature conditions corresponding to the detection values such thatthey are associated with each other. The control target is not limitedto the fixing condition, and the detection value may be fed-back to, forexample, the conveyance speed. The control circuit 302 controls themotor speeds within the optical units 312 to 315 and the speed of thepaper feeding motor 316 according to an instruction of the CPU 301. Aload to the CPU 301 can be reduced by constructing a control means by ahardware circuit, like the control circuit 302.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the recording medium determinationapparatus. The ultrasonic transmitter 20 transmits an ultrasonic wave.The ultrasonic receiver 30 receives an ultrasonic wave transmitted fromthe ultrasonic transmitter 20. The ultrasonic transmitter 20 and theultrasonic receiver are disposed to face each other. The recordingmedium P forwarded by the conveyance roller 128 and the opposingconveyance roller 127 on the conveyance path 10 is conveyed between theultrasonic transmitter 20 and the ultrasonic receiver 30.

The ultrasonic transmitter 20 and the ultrasonic receiver 30 aredisposed such that the outgoing surface and the receiving surface arespaced apart by a distance D. The recording medium P is conveyed betweenthe ultrasonic transmitter 20 and the ultrasonic receiver 30, and theultrasonic transmitter 20 and the ultrasonic receiver 30 are disposedsuch that the recording medium P is spaced apart from the ultrasonictransmitter 20 and the ultrasonic receiver 30 by a distance d=D/2,respectively. However, in an actual situation, the recording medium Pmay flutter while being conveyed, and therefore the distance d varies inthe range of d≈D/2.

The ultrasonic transmitter 20 and the ultrasonic receiver 30 have asimilar configuration, and are respectively constituted by apiezoelelectric element which is an electricity-mechanical energyconversion element, and an electrode terminal. In the ultrasonictransmitter 20, the piezoelelectric element thereof oscillates whenpulse voltage is input to the electrode terminal, whereby an ultrasonicwave is transmitted and is propagated in the air. When the ultrasonicwave reaches the recording medium P, the recording medium P oscillatesaccording to the density of the ultrasonic wave. The oscillation of therecording medium P causes also the air at the opposite side tooscillate, so that the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the ultrasonictransmitter 20 is propagated to the ultrasonic receiver 30 via therecording medium P. The piezoelelectric element of the ultrasonicreceiver 30 generates output voltage according to the amplitude of theoscillation of the air to the electrode terminal. This is a basis of themethod for determining the recording medium P with use of an ultrasonicpiezoelelectric element.

A guide member for guiding an ultrasonic wave transmitted from theultrasonic transmitter 20, and a guide member for guiding an ultrasonicwave which has passed through the recording medium P to the ultrasonicreceiver 30 may also be provided. By providing the guide members, it ispossible to reduce an influence of a reflection wave of an ultrasonicwave from peripheral members as well as improve the directionality of anultrasonic wave transmitted from the ultrasonic transmitter 20 to reduceattenuation of the ultrasonic wave received by the ultrasonictransmitter 30.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a control circuit of therecording medium determination apparatus. The CPU 301 drives ahigh-frequency generation unit 202 to generate a high-frequency signal203. The high-frequency generation unit 202 generates the drive signal203 having a specified frequency, and transmits it to a transmittingunit. The transmitting unit amplifies the received drive signal 203 by adrive circuit 210, and transmits it to the ultrasonic transmitter 20.The ultrasonic transmitter 20 transmits an ultrasonic wave based on theamplified drive signal 203.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the frequency to drive theultrasonic transmitter 20 is 40 kHz and a wavelength of the ultrasonicwave is approximately 9 mm. This is because the resonance frequency ofthe piezoelelectric elements of the ultrasonic transmitter 20 and theultrasonic receiver 30 is 40 kHz. The frequency of 40 kHz is merely anexample in the present exemplary embodiment. The frequency of ultrasonicwave is not limited to 40 kHz in a case that the characteristic of thepiezoelelectric elements is changed.

The ultrasonic receiver 30 receives an ultrasonic wave transmitted fromthe ultrasonic transmitter 20 or an ultrasonic wave which has passedthrough the recording medium P. The received ultrasonic wave isamplified by an amplifier circuit 220, and then is transmitted to atiming generation unit as an intensity signal 204 of the ultrasonicwave. The timing generation unit delays the received intensity signal204 by a delay circuit 230. A delay signal 205 and the intensity signal204 are compared with each other by a comparison circuit 240, and thenan A/D timing output signal 206 is generated. The A/D timing outputsignal 206 is transmitted to the CPU 301, which then causes an A/Dconversion circuit 201 to operate at the timing of the trailing edge ofthe A/D timing output signal 206. The CPU 301 determines the recordingmedium P with use of the result of the A/D conversion at the A/Dconversion circuit 201.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a concrete circuit configuration of thetiming generation unit. FIG. 6 illustrate a part of signal waveforms inthe circuit. A resistance R1 is a load resistance of the ultrasonicreceiver 30. The amplifier circuit 220 has a two-stage configuration.First, an output of the ultrasonic receiver 30 is subjected to aconversion from current to voltage at an amplifier circuit constitutedby an amplifier circuit Amp1 and a resistance R2, which corresponds tothe first stage. Then, the voltage is amplified at an amplifier circuitconstituted by an amplifier circuit Amp2 and resistances R3 and R4,which corresponds to the second stage, thereby amplifying the receivedsignal and outputting the intensity signal 204 (204 in FIG. 6A). A delaycircuit 230 is constituted by a resistance R5 and a capacitor C1. Thedelay circuit 230 delays the input intensity signal 204 in advance bythe resistance R5 and the capacitor C1 based on a predetermined timeconstant, and outputs the delay signal 205 (205 in FIG. 6A). Acomparison circuit 240 constituted by a comparator Comp1 and aresistance R6 compares the intensity signal 204 and the delay signal205, and generates the A/D timing output signal 206 (206 in FIG. 6B).

FIG. 6A illustrates the waveform of the intensity signal 204 obtained byamplifying an ultrasonic wave received by the ultrasonic receiver 30.The output gradually increases after a predetermined time t1 has passedsince the ultrasonic transmitter 20 transmitted the ultrasonic wave. Thepredetermined time t1 varies depending on, for example, the distancebetween the ultrasonic transmitter 20 and the ultrasonic receiver 30,and the ambient environment (temperature and humidity). Generally, asonic speed is expressed by the following equation:

$\begin{matrix}{V = {\sqrt{\gamma\frac{p}{d}} = {331.5 + {0.607{t( {m\text{/}s} )}}}}} & (1)\end{matrix}$in which t represents a temperature [° C.], p represents a pressure, drepresents a density, v represents a sonic speed, and γ represents aratio of constant pressure specific heat and constant volume specificheat of air.

Here, it is assumed that the distance D between the ultrasonictransmitter 20 and the ultrasonic receiver 30 is not changed.Accordingly, a change in the predetermined time t1 can be calculatedfrom a change in the temperature. For example, if the temperature ischanged from 20° C. to 30° C., Δt1 is expressed by the followingequation:

$\begin{matrix}{{\Delta\; t\; 1} = {{\frac{20 \cdot 10^{- 3}}{331.5 + {0.607 \cdot 20}} - \frac{20 \cdot 10^{- 3}}{331.5 + {0.607 \cdot 30}}} = {{1.08\mspace{14mu}\lbrack{\mu s}\rbrack}.}}} & (2)\end{matrix}$Further, in the equation (1), since p and d are in a proportionalrelationship, the sonic speed is not changed by a pressure change. Inother words, the predetermined time t1 is not affected by an atmosphericpressure change. Further, an experiment has revealed that thepredetermined time t1 is changed by 1 to 2 μs according to a paper typeof the recording medium P.

For the above-mentioned reason, in the method in which an output valuefor use in a determination of the recording medium P is obtained after afixed time has passed, accurate grammage detection cannot be carried outsince an ultrasonic wave drive signal was transmitted, since themeasurement timing varies depending on a change in the temperature and achange in the recording medium P.

In the present exemplary embodiment, first, the A/D timing output signal206, which is a square wave, is obtained from the intersection points ofthe intensity signal 204 and the delay signal 205 as a trigger forobtaining an output value for use in a determination of the recordingmedium P. The A/D conversion circuit 201 mounted in the CPU 301 startsan A/D conversion at the timing of the trailing edge of the obtained A/Dtiming output signal 206, obtains a voltage value of the intensitysignal 204, and provides an output value for use in a determination ofthe recording medium P. In this way, instead of obtaining an outputvalue for use in a determination of the recording medium P after a fixedtime has passed since an ultrasonic wave was transmitted, an outputvalue is obtained at the timing of the trailing edge of the A/D timingoutput signal 206 derived from the intersection points of the intensitysignal 204 and the delay signal 205. Therefore, it is possible to obtainan output value at the timing suitable for each environmental conditionand each type of the recording medium P according to an environmentalcondition and a type of the recording medium P, so that the accuracy ofa determination of the recording medium P can be improved. In thepresent exemplary embodiment, the trailing edge of the A/D timing outputsignal 206 is employed as the timing of obtaining an output value foruse in a determination of the recording medium P. However, the leadingedge thereof may be employed instead. Further, timing of a reversedoutput may be obtained by exchanging a plus-side input terminal and aminus-side input terminal of the comparator Comp1. Further, bothpositive and negative local maximum values may be used, or a pluralityof local maximum values may be used.

Further, in the present exemplary embodiment, the output value in thethird cycle of A/D conversion result is employed as a value for use in adetermination of the recording medium P. This is because the outputvalue in the third cycle is suitable for a determination of therecording medium P, as will be described in detail below. Employing theoutput value in the third cycle is merely an example, and the timing isnot limited to the third cycle as long as it is possible to ensure theaccuracy of a determination of the recording medium P.

FIG. 7 illustrates the relationship between the local maximum value ofthe intensity signal 204 in the third cycle and the grammage. Thisfigure illustrates the relationship between the grammage in the range of60 [g/cm²] to 220 [g/cm²] and the local maximum value as an example.Here, a graph which can nearly uniquely determine a local maximum valuefor each grammage is obtained by using the local maximum value of theintensity signal 204 in the third cycle for a determination of therecording medium P. For example, a local maximum value corresponding tothe recording medium P having a grammage of 110 [g/cm²] is approximately500 [mV]. Since it is possible to derive such a relationship between thelocal maximum value and the grammage, a determination of the recordingmedium P can be accurately carried out. The timing of obtaining thelocal maximum value of the intensity signal 204 is not limited to thethird cycle, as long as it is possible to obtain such an output value asthe relationship between the local maximum value and the grammage can beuniquely determined likewise.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the CPU 301. In stepS601, the CPU 301 turns on a drive signal for driving an ultrasonic waveto start determining the recording medium P. Then, in step S602, the CPU301 monitors the trailing edge of the A/D timing output signal 206derived from the intensity signal 204 and the delay signal 205 of thereceived ultrasonic wave after the ultrasonic wave is transmitted andthe ultrasonic wave which has passed through the recording medium P isreceived. In step S603, the CPU 301 causes an A/D conversion of theintensity signal 204 in synchronization with the trailing edge of theA/D timing output signal 206. The CPU 301 repeats the monitoring of theA/D timing output signal (step S602) and the A/D conversion (step S603)until the number of times of measurement required for a determination ofthe recording medium P is reached (step S604). If the required number oftimes of measurement is reached, in step S605, the CPU 301 turns off thedrive signal.

In this way, the timing of obtaining an output value for use in adetermination of the recording medium P is generated from a receivedsignal of an ultrasonic wave and a delay signal generated by delayingthe received signal of the ultrasonic wave for a predetermined time,whereby it is possible to reduce an influence of reflection from theperipheral members and an influence of a change in the environment toimprove the accuracy of grammage detection.

A second exemplary embodiment of the present invention performs acontrol by using a peak hold of a received signal as the comparisonsignal generation method of the timing generation unit described in thefirst exemplary embodiment. In the following description of the secondexemplary embodiment, the same configuration as the configuration of theabove-mentioned first exemplary embodiment will not be described.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a control circuit of therecording medium determination apparatus. FIG. 10 illustrates an exampleof a concrete circuit configuration of a receiving unit and a timinggeneration unit in the control circuit. A difference between the controlcircuit shown in FIG. 9 and the control circuit in the before-describedfirst exemplary embodiment is that the control circuit shown in FIG. 9employs a peak hold circuit 630 as a waveform generator at the timinggeneration unit. As shown in the concrete circuit configuration of FIG.10, the peak hold circuit 630 is constructed using a diode D1 and acapacitor C1.

FIG. 11 illustrate a part of the signal waveforms in the circuit shownin FIG. 10. The received signal received by the ultrasonic receiver 30is amplified by the amplifier circuit 220 and is output as an intensitysignal 701. If the voltage of the intensity signal 701 exceeds thevoltage obtained by adding the amount of charge accumulated in thecapacitor C1 and the forward voltage Vf of the diode D1, the capacitorC1 is charged. If the voltage of the intensity signal 701 does notexceed the voltage obtained by adding the amount of charge accumulatedin the capacitor C1 and the forward voltage Vf of the diode D1, thecapacitor C1 is not charged. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11A, a peakhold signal 702 holds the peak voltage of the intensity signal 701.Here, the discharge curve of the peak hold signal 702 is determinedbased on a time constant T of the capacitor C1 and a resistance R5. Inorder to operate the peak hold circuit 630 normally, the time constant Tshould be sufficiently increased by a time constant circuit compared tothe frequency of ultrasonic wave set at the transmitting unit.

An A/D timing output signal 703 (703 in FIG. 9B) is generated bycomparison of the intensity signal 701 and the peak hold signal 702 atthe comparison circuit 240. The trailing edge of the generated A/Dtiming output signal 703 is used as the timing of obtaining an outputvalue for use in a determination of the recording medium P.

In this way, the A/D timing output signal 703, which is generated by thedelay circuit 230 in the first exemplary embodiment, can be generated bythe peak hold circuit 630 in the second exemplary embodiment. It ispossible to reduce an influence of reflection from the peripheralmembers and an influence of a change in the environment to improve theaccuracy of grammage detection, by using the A/D timing output signal703 generated with use of the peak hold circuit 630. It should be notedthat, although the A/D timing output signal 703 is generated by thedelay circuit 230 or the peak hold circuit 630 in the above-mentionedexemplary embodiments, any circuit is useful which enables generation ofthe A/D timing output signal 703 for use in a determination of therecording medium P, and is not limited to the delay circuit 230 and thepeak hold circuit 630.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all modifications, equivalent structures, and functions.

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No.2009-285756 filed Dec. 16, 2009 and No. 2010-235489 filed Oct. 20, 2010,which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. A recording medium determination apparatuscomprising: a transmitting unit configured to transmit an ultrasonicwave to a recording medium; a receiving unit configured to receive theultrasonic wave via the recording medium; a delay unit configured todelay the received ultrasonic wave for a predetermined time; ageneration unit configured to generate a timing of detecting an outputvalue of the received ultrasonic wave from the received ultrasonic waveand the delayed ultrasonic wave; and a control unit configured todetermine the recording medium using the output value of the receivedultrasonic wave at the timing generated by the generation unit.
 2. Therecording medium determination apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe generation unit generates a square wave from an intersection pointof the received ultrasonic wave and the delayed ultrasonic wave.
 3. Therecording medium determination apparatus according to claim 2, whereinthe control unit determines the recording medium using the output valueof the received ultrasonic wave at the timing of the trailing edge ofthe square wave.
 4. The recording medium determination apparatusaccording to claim 2, wherein the control unit determines the recordingmedium using the output value of the received ultrasonic wave at thetiming of the leading edge of the square wave.
 5. The recording mediumdetermination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unitdetermines the grammage of the recording medium.
 6. An image formingapparatus comprising: an image forming unit configured to form an image;a transmitting unit configured to transmit an ultrasonic wave to arecording medium; a receiving unit configured to receive the ultrasonicwave via the recording medium; a delay unit configured to delay thereceived ultrasonic wave for a predetermined time; a generation unitconfigured to generate a timing of obtaining a value for use in adetermination of the recording medium based on the received ultrasonicwave and the delayed ultrasonic wave; and a control unit configured tocontrol the image forming unit using the output value of the receivedultrasonic wave at the timing generated by the generation unit.